Hatch beam



R. T. LEMON HATCH BEAM Oct. 19, 1943.

7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 26, 1941 l R. T. LEMON HATCH BEAM Filed Deo. 26,' 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. T. LEMON HATCH BEAM Oct. 19, 1943.

7 Sheets-Sheet` 3 [gk [Parras/va,

Filed Deo. 26, 1941 NNI R. T. LEMON Oct. 19, 1943.

HATCH BEAM Filed Deo. 26, 1941 -7 Sheets-Sheet 4- ocr. 19, 1943. R. T. EMQN 2,332,336

HATCH BEAM Filed Dec. 26, 1941 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 -1-1- r--fa R. T. LEMON HATCH BEAM Oct. 19, 1943.

7 Sheets-Sheet` 6 Filed Dec. 26, 1941 R. T. LEMON HATCH BEAM Oct. 19, 1943.-

Filed Deo. 26, 1941 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Zill- Roy 7: ewa/v,

Patented oct. 19, 1943 I This .invention relates to.. hatch beamsandparticularly to rolling hatch beams, for steam vships andother vessels. `More particularly-'the illustratedfembodiments of the invention are ldirec/ted Vto rolling hatch beams for main deck hatches in ships of alltypes vand to improvements and modications in the vrolling beam mechanism andjaccessory equipment. v

The 'general object of the present invention is to 'improve the construction of such hatch beams, whereby they can be removed fromk their resting position to any url obstructedposition along the hatchway withthe 'greatestof dispatch anda minimum of labor. t

Included among the objects is the provision other side of the beam@ A j Fig. 9is a sectional viewpartly in elevation,

'F1g.laisaiview simula-toria 7 taken from the illustrating details of hatch Vcoaming and beam Y rests, showing the vbeamlof Figs. 1 and 2 in lowered position;l f.

Fig. g 10 is a sectional View through the hatch coamingillustrating/beam rests, with the beam removed; y

or a simple, strong and durableJself-contained rrolling hatch beam which can be rolled hand to either end of thhatchway.

ymother object is the `provision of means whereby such beams, instead of being removed from the'hatchway,` maybe krolled alongthe hatchway 4andjacked together at each or" either end,y or placed in any position where they will Y beleast-obstructive. 'Thus the problemof stowing hatch beams on valuable deck space is eliminated. l

Still another object of thevinvention is .to pro-tkr To theattainment of the foregoing and other objects, which will appear as the description proceeds, reference may be made Vto the accompanying drawings, in which:

'.Fig. l -is an elevation partly in section showing a main deck'rolling beam in raised position lfor rolling forward or aft;

Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing the opposite side of the beam;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view partly in elevation,r

illustrating atween deck rolling beam in lowered position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 taken *from* the opposite side of the beam;

Fig. 5 is a plan viewof the rolling hatchbeam.

y Fig,A 1.1 is 'affragmentary elevation hatch coa-ming and beam' rests;

Fig. 12 is a section similarto Fig, 9, from the othersideof the, beam;` j'

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary elevation of a some-` what different hatch coaming from that shown in Fig. A11; Y f

Fig. Mis a sectional View partly in elevation similar toyFig. 10, but illustrating a rdifferent form of hatch coaming;

Fig. 15v is an elevation, partly in section, of the beam and v@earning vshownin Figs. 3 and 4, but illustrating thebeam in raised position;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. the other. side of the beam; t

Fig. 1'? is a section through an ex showing the isting present tween deckuhatch. c oaming; y Fig. lfis Va composite view showing a 'hatch beam roller inelevation andv in section; f

Fig. 19'is'a composite detailed view showing side and end elevations o f a pivot beamfor the hatch beam; L

' fFig. 20 isa composite view showing front and V side elevationsof "the lifting reccentric for'the fir-5 in accordance with Figs. 1` and 2 in raised `posi-` vtion for rolling forward or aft;

Fig. 6 isla similar .View taken from the other side of the beam;

Fig? is a plan view of the` rolling hatch beam, A

in accordance with Figs; 3 and 4,ii1 raised positionfor rolling forward or aft;`

hatch beam;I

4 Fig. 21 is acompositedetail showing an eleva tion .and section through a special hatch beam Wash??? and Fig 221is a composite view showing in elevav tion the'pivot or cam'bolt for the beam. y

`Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals .designate like parts, two forms "of rolling beam have been illustrated. This has been done because the coaming, beam socketsfand beam stops, as well as the proportions ofthe' various parts, areslig-htlyrdiierent inmam deck `hatch, beam installations as compared `with .,tween y deck installations.

' vvCertain, of the viewsillustrate coaming structurer quiteV similar to those currently in use, but as the description proceeds lit will become evident just how such Structure, may be modied if found necessary for 'a given installation, to accommodate the improved rolling beam. Theprinciple of the'inventionis theA same however through the several forms of rolling beam. t Y

' In accordance with the invention, the rolling beams have been so designed that they can be supported on a roller shaftand lever arm. Roll- `l5, takenfrom V i erably run upon a V track welded to the outboard side of the hatch coaming channels. Means are provided for elevating or raising the beam from its beam sockets, and when in raised position, the beam may be rolled manually, longitudinally fore and aft into any position desired.

The arrangement for raising and lowering the l rolling beam from the beam sockets, contemplates eccentrics located near each end of the beams and self-contained in design, these eccentrics being positioned to actuate a combined lever arm and roller shaft, by means of which the beam is supported when in its raised position. By rotating the eccentric through 180 degrees, toward or from the lever arm, the roller shaft will be depressed or raised, and in turn will raisethe beam until it is supported solely by rollers, or will lower it in place where the beam will be supported by the beam sockets andcoarning.,r Y

Figs. 1 and 2 show a main deck hatch beam in its raised position supported by the rollers, Figs. 9 and 12 showing the same beam in its lowered position, supported by the beam sockets and coaming. Figs. 3 and 4 show a tween deck hatch beam in its lowered position, supported by the coaming, while Figs. and 16 show the same beam in its raised position ready for rolling movement along the tracks.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, ,2, 5, G. 9 and 12, the hatch beam 30 is arranged to slide along and between coaming channels 3l. on V tracks 32 which are welded to the top of the respective coaming channels. Pivotally, mounted to the underside of the hatch beamadjacent each end are lever arms 33 which terminate respectively in roller shafts 34. Rollers 35 which are grooved to mate with the tracks 32 are mounted upon the shafts 34. The levers 33 are pivotally carried by pivot studs 36 which are in turn secured to the beam by means of struts 31, and are guided in their movements by combined. lever guides and cam stops 38 located adjacent the outer ends of the beam. An eccentric or cam 39 is pivoted on an eccentric pin 40, above each lever arm 33, the web of the beam aifording an excellent mounting for the pin. The cam. 35 is formed with notches 4| for the reception of a suitable actuating lever, by means of which the cam may be rotated about its pivot 40. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the beam is provided with slots 42 to permit the insertion of such an actuating lever through the beam, from top side, into the holes or notches 4l, thereby facilitating manipulation of the eccentric or cam, such that the beam may be raised or lowered.

The eccentric cream 3B is so designed and mounted that turning it 180 degrees lwill either 'raise'or lower the beam ends. In both extreme positions, i; e., depending vertically from its eccentric pin- 4G, or extending` upwardly `there from, the cam will lock in place by engagement with the cam stop andy lever guide 33, friction between moving parts also assist in this vlocking action. When in its lower or depending position, as shovmin Figs. 1 and 2 the lever arm will have caused the beam to rise by the leverage between the roller 35 and the pivot 36, and `engagement of the eccentric 38 with the arm 33. Whenin its lowered position as shown in Figs. 9 and Vl2,`the beam is permitted to settle on .to the coaming channels and beam rests 43, andwill be held in position bythe beam stops 44 as well as by the beam rests 43 which are socketed for the purpose.

When in the raised position indicated in Figs.

1 and 2, it will be evident that the beam may be rolled manually along the tracks 32 to any desired position with respect to its hatchway. When in this position the weight of the whole assembly is on the rollers, and the whole assembly is elevated sufficiently high to clear the beam rests and beam stops.

When on the other hand the cam has been revolved counter-clockwise degrees from its depending position, the roller shafts rise at the extremities of the lever 33, permitting the hatch beam to follow into its proper place. When in this position there is no stress on the roller shafts 34, rollers 35 or tracks 32, and thus this portion of the beam has an ultimate stress equivalent only to the weight of the rolling beam and its accessories.

The hatch beam stops 44 are welded to the coaming channel 3| at the proper intervals to accommodate the beam in its lowered position. Preferably the notches 4l in the eccentric are suitably distributed, and the slots 42 are of proper length to permit the rotation of the eccentric approximately 99 degrees for each throw of the actuatinglever which an operator will insert.

In Fig. 14 is illustrated a form ofhatch cosming quite similar to that now found on cargo vessels, and with some installations of the present invention, it may be found desirable to modify the illustrated arrangement, to accommodate a particular design of rolling beam, and accessories therefor. A preferred form of ccaming and trackway is that illustrated in the gures already discussed, and the enlarged Vdetails of which appear in section in Fig. 1i). To convert the structure of Fig. 14 into the preferred forni of Fig. 10 it Will be necessary/.to remove the section 45 on a plane parallel to the hatch coamin channel 3l, as indicated by the line -x in Fig. 14. Then the angle `4'5 may be removed, and in designated places beam rests or sockets 43 will be Welded. The outboard side of the coamiug channel adjacent to the bracket 4l will be severed, and between this bracket and the coaming channel 3|, the coaming 48 may be inserted and welded. A chafng bar 49 supported by an angle 5I] may be welded to the coaming 43, and if not already present, beam stops 44 may be suitably located and Welded to the ccaming channel 3i. All of this assembly, either form, will be, ci" course, secured to the main deck 5 l.

Of course, these suggestions for conversion ci one hatch coarning to another apply only to the outboard sides of the coaming. It may be found that the fore and aft coaming will have to be projected to compensate for the additional width oi' the coaming athwartship, which additional width is produced by the removal of the section 45 from the inboard side of the coaming and addition of the coaming 48 to the outboard side of the channel 3 I.

Figs. 3, 4, '7, 8, 15 and 16 are directed to the application of the invention to hatch coamings and hatchways between decks of present cargo vessels. So far as the beam, its levers, roller shafts, rollers, and eccentric cam are concerned, there is little or no difference .over the structure shown in Fig. 1, which has already been described, except perhaps some difference in size and proportions. Accordingly the same reference numerals are used in these figures to designate the elements which find their counterparts in Fig. 1 and no further description thereof is necessary.

But inasmuch as there are differences conventionally in the structure of a hatch Coaming for s. assembly 32, 35.

' the main deck of a ship, over that of hatch cnamings fortween or lower decks, there will naturally, in the present, invention perforce be some distinction in design of the hatch coaming for the roller beam whenused on a tween hatchway. Fig.,l7 illustrates a tween deck hatch coaming quite similar to conventionalcoamings .on pres ent day cargo vessels, and which may require some modification in design in order to employ and incorporate the -rolling beam principle on lower decks. A preferred lower deck construction is that .illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, l and 16. Should itbe found desirable to modify the construction of Fig. 1'7, it may Ibe done by removing the plate 55 (Fig. 17) and substituting therefor la plate l56 (Figs. 3 and 4), to comply with the desired design. The angle bracket 51 may be shortened to leave only the section 58, thus permitting introduction of an angle 59 running in a direction normal to that of the angle 58for the purpose of providing a stiffener and support, for a pair of angles 6D and BI which may be matchedwith' each to form a channel track and roller housing. TracksA 32 may conveniently be welded t to the angle 60.

With this arrangement, the channel 62 illustrated in Fig. 17 may be removed, for re-lccation yin the new position indicated in Figs. 3 and 4. f Desirably angle clips 63 will be suitably located rin the'channel 6 2, for the sake of stiffness and qrigidity.

v rc

With this arrangement it Will be evident that Y,

f the angle portion 60 forms a roller track bed resting .on vthe channel 62, while the `[angle 6l completes the enclosure for the trackl and roller All structural shapes Will, of

course, be held rigidly in the designated positions in accordance with standard engineering practice prevailing in the specic' locality, or by the specications as setup by the builder, it being understood that the lassembly is,'of course, se-

cured in this particular showing, to the lower or tween deck structure 52.

.It might be noted that .because of the slight difference in beam structure,A the struts 31 canv be omitted and, the pivot studs 36y be directly 'mounted in the web 53 of this particular beam arrangement.

Referencemavnow be made briefly to Figs. v,

'18 to 22; inclusive, wherein structural details are `illustratedin somewhat enlargedform. As can kbe seen from Fig. 18, the roller 35, preferably of cast iron and proportioned to the particular in-A stallation, is grooved in generally Vconguration, to accommodate the V track 32. However,

in order to avoid binding and to permit the ing and trackways oierialmost unlimited possi-l Figs. 21 and 22are kmerely details of the `type of brass washer 6l, of whichv at least four will` be required per hatch beam,` and of the steel cam and pivot bolts, oi whichtwo for the cam and two yfor the pivot beam willbe required per hatch beam.

Having thus described theffinvention, the.opl Y eration and advantages'thereof are believed tov` be readily apparent to those skilled, inthe art,l

it being understood,l of course, that the vprinf ciples oi operation, the illustrated embodiments'` 2 of structures for carrying out those-principles,

and the suggested modifications of one structure v to another, 'are intended merely asillustrative,

and not as limiting, except as dened in the claim appended hereto. v

When a hatch beam is in its raisedl position, asV

shown inFigs. 1-2, and 15-16, it may be rolled along the hatchway to anyposition-desired. All

parts will clear, and all weight is taken by the rollers 35, the strut 31, the pivot beam 33 3i,.

and, of course, the pivot as well as cam 39.

When it is desired tol lower the same, the beamy will be rolled to a position over the beam rests f 3 `and beam stops 44, a lever vwill'be inserted through a slot 52 andinto one of thejnotches 4l of the respective eccentric or cam 3B. Onemoveyment of the lever, for the length'of the slot A2,.

will serve to rotate the eccentric 90degrees or one-half'of the lowering distance, andthe opera? tion can be repeated whereupon the endr of the beam will follow into position,l andthe roller 35l and no longer'carry the load. Eachendvof the hatch beam will, of vcourse,1besimilarly maneu-y vered. The beam is thenlocked into position by the beam rests and stops. y

Many modications will occurfto those skilled in the art, and it is intended, within the limits, of the appended claim thatsuchmodifications are within the scope of this invention. Forexample,` it will be noted thatin eiect, the pivot beam and eccentric cam arrangement is a jack,

` operable to raise and lower the hatch beam body on itsrollers. Conceivably some other. form of jack might be substituted, withoutin any wise deviating from the principles of vthe instant invention. Again, the construction of hatch coambilities of variation, and may infactbe different rocking movement of which the roller partakes as the beam is raisedy or lowered, this V groove will terminate at its root in a circumferential depression or groove .64, `rather than in a full V-apex. ,l f

The combined lever arm and roller shaft Sli-34, which for the sake of convenience may pivot beamris preferably of steel, and vtwo will normally berequired for each rolling hatch beam, i. e., onel pivot beam ateach end of the hatch beam. The pivot beams will, of course,be suit-v ably drilled as at 65 to receive the pivot studs 36. Fig 20 shows the eccentric cam 39,r eccentrically drilled at |56 for the accommodation of eccentric pin 40, and illustrating the peripherally` disposed holes or notches 4I which receive the actuating lever (not shown).

4be termed a pivot beam is shown in Fig. 19. This` externally of the beam body, and cam means onl said beam body engageable with said lever means y ments. f

for every installation. Various forms of camming'means might be substituted `forthe par-l ticular eccentric cam illustrated herein, i. e., a slidingwedge or the like might conceivably be used. i

Patent'of theA United States is:

In a rolling hatch beam construction, the com- I bination of a beam body, roller means for said body," and a trackway vfor said roller means, means to produce relative raising and lowering movements between said beam body and'said V'trackway comprising f a leverl farm vpivotally mounted on the beam body, a kshaft carried'byv said `lever arm for mounting said roller means to actuate thesame, and means affording access through the beam body to said cam means for purposes of adjustmentof saidl cam means to produce said relative raising and lowering movenoyfr.-v LEMON. n.

Having thus described `:my invention,` what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 

